Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed won the Michigan Democratic Senate primary on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026, narrowly defeating Rep. Haley Stevens by about one percentage point. Stevens, who was supported by the Democratic establishment and moderates, conceded the race the same morning.

Former President Donald Trump responded to El-Sayed’s victory on Truth Social, calling it “great news for the Republican Party.” He described El-Sayed as a “Communist loser who hates Jews and Israel” and noted that polls had underestimated Stevens’ performance.

During his victory speech, El-Sayed expressed solidarity with Jewish voters, stating, “We can condemn antisemitism, and at the same time, we can be talking about how we bring people together, and we can be talking about everybody’s pain.” He added, “To all of my sisters and brothers of the Jewish faith, or any faith at all, or no faith at all: I want you to know that my commitment to your safety, my commitment to Jewish safety, is the same commitment that I have to the safety of my own daughters.”

Stevens has publicly supported a two-state solution regarding Israel and Palestine but does not characterize Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide. The Michigan Senate race is considered a battleground contest that could influence which party controls the Senate after the November elections.

Sources